It seems like Freddie Mac CEO Richard Syron is getting the blame for the housing crisis that hit the country terribly. Former chief risk officer David Andrukonis claims that we could have prevented the crippling housing crunch had Syron listened to him in 2004 when he warned the CEO against investing in risky mortgages – loans that can cause financial problems in the future.
Years later, we found ourselves immersed in the very thing that Andrukonis warned about: a housing crisis caused by risky mortgages. From a homeowner’s perspective, it’s frustrating to know that a large-scale problem like this could’ve been avoided had concerned officials been more receptive to signs.
But there is no use in pointing fingers now. The damage has already been done; we must focus more on solving the problem and making sure that it doesn’t happen again. Fortunately, the new housing bill, which provides a number of housing assistance measures for troubled homeowners, was signed into law last month. That takes care of solving the problem.
Now, how do we make sure it doesn’t happen again?
The answer is simple. We just have to be careful with the kinds of mortgages we purchase. Now that we know how risky mortgages can contribute to the problem, we must think of ways to avoid them. And we can do that by acquiring knowledge on the different types of mortgages to eliminate the possibility of being duped by lenders. Be familiar with the following:
· Adjustable rate mortgages
(ARMs) – rates change depending on the interest rates in the marketplace. The amount you pay for this kind of mortgage will depend on the interest rates on the loan, meaning, you pay more if the interest rate rises, and less if it falls. There are 10/1 and 7/1 ARM. 10/1 ARM means that your rate is fixed for ten years and then adjusts each year. 7/1 ARM is the same; your rate is fixed for seven years and then adjusts every year. This however, has a high chance that payments will shoot up drastically.
· Option adjustable rate mortgages – you can choose the payment scheme for your mortgage each month. You can either pay a low minimum payment, pay-only the interest, or choose a 15-, 30-, or 40-year amortization schedule. This allows you to base your payment scheme on your monthly budget. However, there is a possibility that you don’t build equity for your house because you’re only making small payments, making you owe more on your house at the end of each month.
· Negative amortization loans – these sometimes result from option ARMs. This type of loan doesn’t lessen your balance because you pay so little that you don’t even cover the interest, making your balance stay the same. This will make you owe the bank more money, because aside from the principal balance, the interest rate you didn’t pay is added to your loan.
· Interest-only loans – allow you to make small monthly payments, especially if you have a varying income. You don’t pay off your balance right away because you only pay for the interest, so you end up not building any equity for your home. However, this makes it possible for people to purchase more expensive homes without paying a lot. You can also customize your amortization schedule with interest-only loans.
Hopefully, you’ll be able to make a sound decision in case you are planning to buy a house, now that you have an idea of how each type of mortgage works. This will allow you to identify which type works well for you. Another thing that would greatly help is communication with your lenders and brokers. If there is something that you need to clarify, ask. It never hurts to ask especially if you don’t want to be the one suffering from all the hurt in the future.
